PhRMA Launches Second Annual China Days

PhRMA November 27, 2012

SHARE THIS

Washington, DC/Beijing (November 26, 2012) –

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today launched its China PhRMA Days 2012 (November 26-30). As a part of this year’s activities, John C. Lechleiter, Ph. D., chairman of PhRMA, will be meeting with officials from the Chinese government and scientific community involved in innovation policy, including those involved in science education, clinical trial infrastructure, and regulation of medical products to discuss policies needed to support an ecosystem for medical innovation in China.

“The U.S. biopharmaceutical industry – which I joined as a scientist 33 years ago – shares China’s commitment to the development of innovative medicines as a primary means to improve the quality of healthcare while controlling the costs,” said Lechleiter. “I am visiting China this week in my capacity as chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to strengthen our industry’s relationship with China in this important and exciting endeavor.”

Lechleiter will begin his trip in Chengdu on November 26, where he will tour Huaxi Hospital and meet with Provincial and City leaders to hear firsthand the progress and challenges that China is making to expand and improve healthcare. He will then travel to Beijing, where he will meet with leaders in the government and scientific community. During his visit, he will participate in the launch of the China Partnership for Safe Medicines, speak at a roundtable discussion on drug administration law reform at Tsinghua University, and deliver the keynote address at the 2012 International Summit for Pharma Innovation organized by RDPAC (the R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee).

“Building on the considerable progress China has made in recent years, our member companies are ready to contribute to the further development of the ecosystem to support innovation in China,” stated Lechleiter at the start of this visit. He also outlined three elements needed for the innovation ecosystem to thrive in China: 1) intellectual property protection (patents and data protection), which is the lifeblood of any enterprise that derives value from ideas; 2) policy that supports fair pricing and timely reimbursements of medicines; and 3) a regulatory system that is transparent, predictable, and aligned with global frameworks. “If all of these elements come together, then there is every reason to believe that China will become a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation,” said Lechleiter.

Lechleiter’s trip follows the 2011 visit to China by former PhRMA Chairman Christopher Viebacher and represents only the second time a PhRMA Chairman has travelled to China in their capacity as Chair.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested over $500 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $49.5 billion in 2011 alone.